Amadé, Austria

Ski Amadé is the largest area for skiing in Europe and includes a large complex of towns and villages. Located in Austria and named after the country’s most famous son, the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the resort contains the Five Regions area, which includes 28 villages.

As such, the region as a whole stretches all the way from south-east Salzburg, on the central border, to the Styrian region in the south-eastern part of the country.

How to get there

Depending on where you are based in Austria, it might be difficult to avoid the Amadé region! That said, the common starting point for exploring the region is Salzburg. Being the fourth largest city in Austria, it is extremely well-connected. Salzburg Airport is the second largest airport in the country and boasts links with London Gatwick and Stansted. Many of the budget airlines fly between the two cities.

Once you have arrived at the airport, you will find yourself within close proximity of many of the major skiing sites, including Salzburger Sportwelt, Schladming-Dachstein, Gastein, Grossarltal, and Hochkönig. There are two obvious ways of accessing this skiing paradise. The first, and perhaps the most convenient, is a 45 minute drive from Salzburg to the Eastern Alps. Alternatively, and more economically, there is a rail network which extends to the region. The journey time is approximately one hour. For rates and information, check out the ÖBB website.

Once you have arrived in the region, travelling from place to place is simple. There are ski buses which serve the network of slopes but there is always the option of renting a car and exploring on your own.

Who the resort caters for

Being the largest ski resort in Europe, it is fair to say that it appeals to everyone who enjoys skiing. To be more specific, the resort caters for beginners, intermediate skiers, and experts (see the section on Slope Information).

Fundamentally, Amadé is a fine place for a family holiday, offering 267 ski huts and mountain restaurants, as well as accommodation of all types and prices. The range of activities available beyond pure skiing is staggering. Activities include tobogganing on the natural runs, ice skating, curling, horse-sleigh rides, and swimming. Alternatively, if you just want to relax, you will love Amadé’s spa.

There are also plenty of sight-seeing opportunities in the region. Check out the limestone reef of the Dachstein in Schladmind-Dachstein, or the Hohe Tauern National Park in Gastein.

What accommodation the resort offers

With a total of 25 ski communities, you would expect there to be a wide range of accommodation choices on offer. The region does not disappoint in this respect. There are almost 5,500 lodging establishments in the Amadé region, making for well over 90 thousand guest beds! It is possible to stay in a deluxe hotel or rent rooms in farmhouses or chalets.

If you would like to gain an impression of what is on offer and, more importantly, what you can expect to pay, check out either the Salzburg Sportwelt website or the Ski Amadé official website. To give you a very broad perspective on rates, the average price for a 5 star hotel is around 100 Euros per night, per person. Conversely, if you are willing to brave a hostel, then you can expect to spend approximately 25 Euros per night, per person.

Slope Information

Needless to say, the skiing on offer at Amadé is simply astonishing. You can find an incredible 860 kilometres of slopes in the Five Regions. Crucially, there is plenty of room for skiers of all abilities. The so-called blue slopes are suitable for beginners and there are 145 of them. The red slopes are for intermediate skiers and there are 181 of them. The black slopes are strictly for experts and there are 30 of them. The most spectacular lift of all is the Dachstein Glacier, which reaches a height of 2,700 metres. However, the quality of skiing in general is outstanding and the resorts of Schladming, Flachau, and Zauchensee were all used for the annual Alpine Skiing World Cup circuit.

With so many slopes, being able to get around easily is very important. Amadé is extremely well laid out. There are 43 chair lifts and 93 cabin lifts, as well as 79 tows.

Cross-country skiing is also popular in the Amadé region. There are over 700 kilometres of marked Nordic skiing tracks to be enjoyed.